February 18, 2011

It took the Trojans three times, but they finally got the monkey off of their back.

Tara Potter scored 15 points, including 11 in the second half, and fellow senior Katie Carpenter came up with some crucial second half plays, as Bandys overcame a four-point halftime deficit to win the CVAC tournament over Newton-Conover.

February 18, 2011

That's not because he studied it in school or perused endless history textbooks.

It's because he lived black history.

Ellis, 88, is a lifelong resident of Catawba County. He's seen the area go through many changes during his lifetime, and he celebrates Black History Month as a way to commemorate those changes and look forward to a future where people have the same opportunities â€” regardless of the color of their skin.

February 18, 2011

During Catawba County Chamber of Commerce's annual membership meeting Thursday, business leaders, government officials and educational representatives were introduced to Catawba County's web portal â€” a website linked to all chamber members.

Startsomethinghere.com was unveiled Thursday at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center event after two years of brainstorming and planning.

February 18, 2011

What kind of impression does Newton leave on residents and visitors as they enter the city?

According to one city council member, nothing too positive.

"Coming down N.C. 16 from Conover, the first thing you see is a house on that corner that looks terrible," Council Mary Bess Lawing said of a residence where used and abandoned child toys and refuse fill the property. "People coming through town, wherever they are coming from, they come in and see dilapidated property or property that needs tender, loving care, and they think, 'What kind of city is this?'"

February 18, 2011

Robert Ray Wright, 56, of Conover, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, at Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The Wright family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover.

Kenneth Charles Mogray Sr., 78, of Newton, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley after a brief bout with lung cancer. The family will gather privately.

February 18, 2011

A recently filed House bill could cut salaries for certain school system leaders, forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for city school superintendents they want to remain on the job.

House Bill 131 was filed Wednesday in the General Assembly proposing that the North Carolina State Board of Education fund one school superintendent per county. For counties, like Catawba County, with more than one school district and superintendent per county, that could mean changes in personnel, unless taxpayers want to pay for superintendents' salaries themselves.

February 18, 2011

Case goods and upholstery producer Fairmont Designs selected Hickory for a project that will create 200 new jobs during the next four years with a minimum investment of $1.5 million.
Fairmont Designs acquired a former 215,000-square-foot Thomasville Furniture facility, where it will manufacture upholstered furniture.
Fairmont Designs has 25 years of expertise in manufacturing home furnishings and furnishings for the hospitality industry. They have a 200,000-square-foot upholstery plant in Rancho Dominguez, Calif., where they are headquartered.

February 18, 2011

Catawba County is under a fire weather watch until Saturday night.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued the fire weather watch Friday. The watch is in effect for late Saturday morning into early Saturday evening.
A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather may occur and cause a spread of wildfires.